10 Jun 2026
The Orchard Nursing Home in St Albans marked their newly achieved Veteran Friendly status with an event for residents, relatives and specially invited guests from the local community.
The celebration, hosted by home manager Dumitru Vazaru, and the home’s VFF Champions, who include Natalie Collard and Vicky Ashby, took place in The Orchard’s garden and featured canapés, bubbles and music.
Special guests included Cllr Ajanta Hilton, chair of the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board, and Herts County Council lead for public health and community safety, Verulam district councillor Dawn Gamble, Sue Rose county vice chair of the Royal British Legion and Jacqeline Sayers and Joyce Carey from St Abans U3A.
The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) offers guidance to care providers on how best to give appropriate support to the thousands of veterans living in care homes across England. It is a collaborative project led by the Royal British Legion, Royal Star & Garter and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance.
As part of The Orchard’s journey towards becoming a Veteran Friendly home, customer relationship manager Natalie Collard worked closely with Sue Rose from Hertfordshire Heroes and their policy manager Katherine Brierley, the Armed Forces Veteran Breakfast Club, and local cadet camps to strengthen community outreach and support for veterans. Their guidance and encouragement played an important role in helping The Orchard achieve its accreditation.
Veterans and veterans’ spouses within the home were identified, and their stories, photographs and memorabilia collated to help celebrate and honour their experiences and service.
Ajanta Hilton and Dawn Gamble spoke about exciting opportunities within the local community and how they will support The Orchard in raising awareness of their status as a Veteran Friendly home.
Afterwards, Ajanta posted on social media: “Congratulations to Orchard Care Home in St Albans to have achieved Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) accreditation aligning itself with the Armed Forces Covenant. The second in Hertfordshire. We were delighted to be invited to a very special afternoon tea celebrating this achievement and meeting with staff and residents.”
Home manager Dumitru added: “We’re extremely proud to have gained our Veteran Friendly Framework accreditation. Making sure the veterans in our home are acknowledged is very important to us and we understand how crucial giving the right support can be.
“This special afternoon celebrated not only our accreditation, but also the veterans within our home, and we look forward to becoming even more involved in community initiatives that honour and support veterans.”
